Madam Lee

Having seen this local band several times, I can safely say, I much prefer them to many others content wise. A muggy night in Brattleboro at the Tinder Box can be a hard thing to deal with, and usually the crowed thins out because of the stifling heat. But Madam Lee kept everyone there and dancing, a great feat. Madam Lee having been together for a good chunk of time (5 years) and play very well with each other. They know their instruments and fellow band mates well enough so no one part overpowers any other. There were only a few times where balance became a noticeable issue. This was not due to their lack of listening to each other, but to their volume, when getting louder they were also mixing in more intricate parts. This caused a rushed feeling, and you had to really listen in order to hear exactly what was going on.

Malcolm Donaldson (lead singer and bass) writes the majority of the songs they play. Unlike most singer/songwriters at his age his songs are well composed, and are not based on immature/trivial subject matter. Malcolm, a well rounded musician, plays the bass in a way that supports the bottom, it's not trying to override or take control of the music. He keeps his lines simple, engaging, and steady. Adam Kyle (lead guitar) had some stunning moments, during their set. He played every bridge and transition well with little to no flaws. At time I heard some predominant blues influence, which was refreshing. Even in the parts that didn't sound as clean as they could have been, you could still get an idea of what he was going for. The confusion was mostly due to mixing as I said. Lee Mohr (drums) was a driving force, with great energy coming from him without being overwhelming. He knows how to consistently support them without dragging behind. You can tell Lee is thinking about what he is doing, but his thoughts aren't clouding what is coming through.

The set started off really really strong, from the first song they drew the crowed in. 'Much Too Much' is strong in all departments. 'Bound To Be' filled with lots of guitar rifts and steady drumming, With lyrics such as:

"The odds they wrote. Were just played into the hoax.
Just to feed into your greed. Begging to go broke.
You spun the wheel even more. Just for a little relief.
The odds they wrote Were just played into the hoax.
Just to feed into your greed. Begging to go broke.
You spun the wheel even more. Just for a little relief"

There is a winning combination of content and catchy playing. Malcolm wanted me to issue a disclaimer: "Although my lyrics are probably depressing as fuck it's not a reflection on the Madam Lee lifestyle" Madam Lee's lyrics are one of the most distinctive parts of their music. 'Coincidence' is a song where lyrics and instrumentation go hand in hand. This song shows just how comfortable they are with each other. Throughout the event nothing felt uneasy or hurriedly put together at the last minute. All in all Madam Lee is a band that has the best of all worlds and puts on a great show.

Madam Lee (facebook)'Coincidence' - Madam Lee
'Much Too Much' - Madam Lee
'When You Come Home' - Madam Lee
'Bound To Be' - Madam Lee
Lyrics to the above songs